Chapter 27: The Test of a Monster
Satoru settled into his stance, his body humming with refined energy. His pale blue eyes, fixed on Zephyr, burned with a clear, focused battle intent, not a trace of fear at the immense power gap.
"Good look in your eyes," Zephyr noted, approving. The boy wasn't cowed.
"Instructor Zephyr," Satoru warned, "the next move might surprise you."
"Then surprise me."
The moment Zephyr's words ended, Satoru was simply there—right in front of the former Admiral. There had been no blur of motion, no dash.
Zephyr's eyes widened behind his sunglasses. No movement... it's spatial displacement.
His mind reeled. With his Admiral-level perception, he hadn't detected any telegraphing of that movement. It was as if space itself had folded.
Is this the 'special ability' Sengoku mentioned? Zephyr thought. But teleportation alone isn't enough to claim superiority over the Lunarians.
"Black Flash."
The thought was cut short. Zephyr's senses screamed as a volatile, hyper-condensed energy sheathed Satoru's fist. For the first time in this fight, Zephyr felt a genuine threat.
Not good!
Instinct took over. Zephyr crossed his arms in front of his chest, his forearms hardening into gleaming, pitch-black steel with Armament Haki.
BOOM-CRACK!
Satoru's fist connected. The impact wasn't just physical; it was a localized detonation of amplified force, accompanied by a spray of black, lightning-like energy—reminiscent of the clash of advanced Conqueror's Haki.
The force was monumental. Zephyr's boots screeched across the training ground stone as he was blasted backward over ten meters, trenches gouged into the earth by his heels.
"Good... good grief, kid!" Zephyr gasped, coming to a stop and shaking out his numb, throbbing arms. A fierce, exhilarated grin split his face. "That's some real power!"
From his observation post, Fleet Admiral Sengoku watched, his own composure shaken. In the entire Navy, very few could force Zephyr back like that. That a child had done it was inconceivable.
"No wonder Sengoku said the Academy brats are no match for you," Zephyr laughed, his respect evident. "That one punch proves your point."
He felt a sudden disdain for his current students. The gap was insulting.
"But a punch like that... it's an amplification technique, right? How many can you throw before you burn out?"
Such power boosts usually came with severe drawbacks or limited uses.
"As many as I want," Satoru replied, his tone matter-of-fact. Mana began swirling around both his fists now, crackling with the same unstable energy. "It's not a difficult move for me."
He's going for consecutive strikes?! Zephyr's excitement boiled over. "Alright then, boy! Show me your limits!"
Black Haki surged over Zephyr's arms again. The two figures shot toward each other.
What followed was a storm. Fist met fist—one massive and Haki-hardened, the other small and wreathed in volatile energy. The air concussed with each collision. BLAM! BLAM! BLAM-CRACK! The very ground around them fractured and cratered under the shockwaves.
Sengoku watched, his strategic mind analyzing. This amplification... it doesn't seem to belong to the categories of 'gravity, repulsion, or stopping.' What is its source?
The exchange grew more furious. Dozens of punches were traded. Yet, Satoru showed no sign of strain, no depletion. Zephyr's initial theory of a limited technique was crumbling. Was there really no downside?
"Instructor Zephyr," Satoru called out, suddenly disengaging with another spatial flicker, putting distance between them. "Try this one."
He swept a hand toward the ground. Every piece of shattered stone and rubble in a wide radius suddenly shot toward Zephyr, not as projectiles, but as if pulled by a powerful magnet. They slammed into the former Admiral's torso and stuck there, a growing, constricting mass.
Huh? Zephyr grunted, feeling an immense, persistent pull centered on his chest. His skin and muscles tugged inward unnaturally. Had he not instantly cloaked his entire body in Armament Haki, the force might have crushed his ribs.
"Is this... the power of attraction?" Sengoku murmured, witnessing another facet of Satoru's arsenal.
"Interesting trick, kid!" Zephyr called out, his voice slightly strained but confident. "But do you think this will hold me?"
Satoru's calm expression faltered for a split second.
Because Zephyr moved.
Despite being the epicenter of a powerful gravitational pull, his body half-buried in clinging rubble, Zephyr vanished.
Soru! (Shave!)
Satoru's Six Eyes snapped to his flank. Zephyr was already there, having closed the distance with the Navy's supreme movement technique. His form was a mass of stuck rocks and dust, but his speed was unimpaired.
The Haki-clad fist, trailing debris, drove toward Satoru's side. Zephyr held back, of course—a full-power strike would be lethal.
But then, the fist stopped.
Or rather, it slowed to an imperceptible crawl, hovering a few centimeters from Satoru's shirt. An invisible, viscous field—Infinity—had asserted itself.
"What... is this now?" Zephyr breathed, astonished.
Three distinct, profound abilities in one short bout. Teleportation. Amplified Strikes. Attraction. And now... an absolute defense.
"Is this the 'Stopping Force'?" Sengoku whispered, the reality far more impressive than the description.
He watched as Zephyr strained against the unmoving space, his legendary strength finding no purchase. A cold, strategic thrill ran through the Fleet Admiral.
If Conqueror's Haki Infusion is truly the only key... then this boy isn't just a prodigy. He's the blueprint for the Navy's ultimate weapon.
(End of Chapter)
✨If you're enjoying this story, consider supporting me on Patreon —
Patreon.com/TofuChan
💕Patreon members get early access to chapters, bonus content, and voting power on future ideas.💕
Every bit of support helps me write more and faster. Thank you so much for reading! 🥰
Bonus Chapter For Every 50 Power Stones
Lets hit the goal of 100 Patreon Members now for 5 Extra Chapters 💕
We are at 102 members right now.
Donate me Stoness!!!